Clark County Commission to Consider New Data Center Ordinance; Sierra Club Proposes Pause
The Clark County Commission is set to draft an ordinance governing future data center development in unincorporated areas of the county. The Sierra Club will urge the commission to pause approvals for new data centers, citing concerns over high resource consumption, particularly water. Public sentiment reportedly opposes further development, prompting consideration of new restrictions.
The Clark County Commission is preparing to draft an ordinance that will govern future data center development in the unincorporated areas of the county. This initiative comes amidst growing public sentiment against further development, fueled by concerns over resource consumption.
The Sierra Club plans to address the commission, advocating for a pause on the approval of any new data centers. The organization highlights Nevada's status as the driest state in the nation and points to the severe impacts data centers can have on water resources, air quality, and renewable energy efforts.
In response to such concerns, the Southern Nevada Water Authority implemented a ban on evaporative cooling systems for new construction in 2023. Data center operators Switch and Nova are cited as examples of companies already utilizing water-free cooling systems and sourcing power from sustainable options. The Sierra Club will present a list of best practices for communities to consider when evaluating data center proposals during the upcoming commission meeting, where potential restrictions will be deliberated.